Abstract
This thesis investigates some fundamental nutrient requirements for the development of a formulated feed for the grow-out phase of mud crabs, Scylla serrata (Forskal 1775) in Australia and S. paramamosain (Estampador 1949) in Vietnam.Apparent digestibility (AD) for dry matter, protein, and energy were found for 7 ingredients in the diet of S. serrata, including defatted soybean meal, fish meal, blood meal, shrimp meal, cod liver oil, wheat flour, and alpha cellulose. AD for dry matter, protein, lipid, ash, and nitrogen free extract were determined for 13 ingredients in the diet of S. paramamosain, namely defatted soybean meal, full fat soybean meal, cassava meal, wheat flour, rice bran, fish meal, acetes meal, peanut oil cake meal, coconut oil cake meal, Korean fish oil, Korean squid oil, local pig fat oil, and vegetable oil.
Optimal requirements for digestible protein, total balanced essential amino acid, digestible energy, and two essential fatty acids, linoleic and linolenic acids, were determined. The optimal digestible protein requirement by juveniles of S. serrata was approximately 530 g kg-1 for maximum weight gain, and 460 g kg-1 for minimum feed conversion ratio. The optimal requirements of S. serrata for the total balanced essential amino acid and the digestible energy were 258 g kg-1 and 15.7 MJ kg-1, respectively. The optimal requirement of juveniles of S. paramamosain for linolenic acid and linoleic acid were 8.1 g kg-1 and 11.5 g kg-1, respectively.
These results were used to formulate a feed that was superior to trash fish (Oreochromis mossambicus) in terms of survival rate and weight gain, but inferior to the more expensive commercial vital prawn feed in terms of growth and feed conversion ratio.
| Date of Award | Nov 2007 |
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| Original language | English |
| Supervisor | Jim Luong-Van (Supervisor) |